Shentangbao is a simple military castle, and Dingbian City is the commercial center north of Hengshan and Shaanxi Road. However, when it comes to real prosperity, Shentangbao, a military castle, is far more prosperous than Dingbian City.

many.

This is because when Xiao Ding's Guangrui Army was stationed in Shentangbao, four or five settlements were built with Shentangbao as the center. After Guangrui's army and their families left, this area became part of Hengshan.

Those Dangxiang people who immigrated and the Song people who settled nearby.

As for the businessmen who come from Yanzhou and Xingling, in addition to doing business in Dingbian City, they still like to live here at Shenbao Hall, and are even willing to buy land and build houses around Shentangbao.

Because there are not only Xiao Ding's three thousand garrison here.

There are also piers that are getting better and bigger every day.

The shipping industry also began to slowly flourish here.

"I really can't believe that Shentang Castle has turned into this!" Cui Ang sighed.

Cheng Gui on the side glanced at Cui Ang and said, "Cui Zhongcheng must have been here six years ago, right?"

"Yes." Cui Ang said: "The Shentang Fort at that time was very desolate. Everyone said that Xiao Ding was a fierce general. I really didn't expect that he was capable of governing the place."

Cheng Gui shook his head: "Many things here were left behind by Xiao Erlang. And now the person who governs the Northwest for Xiao Ding is a teacher named Zhang Yuan."

"Zhang Yuan? Never heard of him being so capable?" Cui Ang asked in surprise.

Cheng Gui did not speak, silently watching on the river, another boat sailed into the dock. A boatman jumped off the boat, tied the rope, fixed the boat, and then teams of people got on the boat and began to pull the boat into place.

The cargo from the ship was unloaded, and on the pier, there was a carriage waiting there to transport the cargo unloaded from the ship without any delay.

Zhang Yuan is certainly very capable.

Otherwise, if Xiao Ding's subordinates commanded 100,000 soldiers, where would the pay for so many soldiers come from?

Just by robbing?

How can that last?

Nowadays, Xiao Ding is only focused on leading his troops to fight and expand the territory. The management of the local area has long been handed over to Zhang Yuan, supplemented by party members such as Extension and Yangwei, Ren Duozhong, and Tubo officials such as Yuzang Huama.

People managed that vast area in an orderly manner.

In the past, Shaanxi Road was like a whirlpool, constantly attracting wealth from the north of Hengshan, even when Li Xu wanted to rebel. Li Xu's military was very strong, but in terms of business, he still

Can't compete with Shaanxi Road.

But now, the situation has been reversed.

The area north of Hengshan is constantly sucking the blood of Shaanxi Road. In fact, it’s not just Shaanxi Road, but also Qinfeng Road and Hedong Road.

This is no small matter!

You must know that one of the most important reasons why the Song Dynasty was able to stalemate with the Liao Kingdom for so long is that the Song Dynasty was rich, and had much more money than the Liao Kingdom.

If the soldiers don't have enough fighting ability, then they can use money to make up for it.

The Song Dynasty would never hesitate to invest in building taller and stronger city walls and crafting sharper, stronger but more expensive weapons. As long as the money could offset the fighting power of the Liao people, the Song Dynasty would not hesitate to invest.

In terms of making money, even the Liao people couldn't keep up with the Song people.

The Song Dynasty kept giving annual coins to the Liao people, but the Song people didn't care. Because these coins and silks given to the Liao people would be returned to the hands of the Song people after they were transferred to the hands of the Liao people.

But now, the Yi people on the other side of Hengshan actually surpassed the people of the Song Dynasty in terms of commerce, and they were actually more profitable than the people of the Song Dynasty.

It seems to be just a failure in business competition, but what lies inside makes people like Cheng Gui worried.

The Western Army has formed its own system.

They have their own huge territory, their own industrial and commercial system, and manufacturing system. They use the large number of captive slaves to cultivate a large amount of farmland. The irrigation channels are getting longer and longer, and the roads connecting the four directions are becoming more and more convenient.

And these can all transform war into combat power.

Thinking about the 100,000 troops under Xiao Ding's command, thinking about those ferocious iron kites, sturdy Bubazi, and desperate collisions with the son, Cheng Gui couldn't help but swallow a gulp of saliva.

The names of these armies that make people feel that there is no culture at all. I heard that Xiao Erlang stayed behind at the beginning. I don’t know what the allusion is, but there is no doubt that these armies have now become the existence that can stop children crying at night in the northwest.

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Cui Ang arrived at Jingzhao Mansion and met with Lan Sixin. Lan Sixin was very happy about Xiao Yu being imprisoned. He had no grudge against Xiao Yu, but now as the pacifier of Shaanxi Road, he

He was humiliated several times by Xiao Ding, and so far, no one of the officials he appointed in Xingling Land has dared to take office.

Because the brave ones in front have already been snatched away by wolves in the Hengshan Mountains.

I hate the house and the bird.

So he also hated Xiao Yu incidentally.

However, he hated Xiao Ding, but he was also extremely afraid of Xiao Ding.

I admire Cui Ang for actually daring to cross Hengshan Mountain under such circumstances.

In his opinion, under such a situation, Xiao Yu might rebel at any time.

"Impossible. Xiao Ding's parents, sisters, and Fang Qi's entire family are now in Bianliang. He dares to rebel and doesn't want the lives of these people?" Cui Ang disagreed.

As for Cui Ang's confidence, Lan Sixin can only wish him a smooth journey.

At the same time, he also recommended a companion to him, Cheng Gui, the prefect of Yan'an.

At this point, Lan Sixin really did it for Cui Ang's benefit.

Now on the whole road of Shaanxi, the only one who can speak in front of Xiao Ding and give Xiao Ding some face is Cheng Gui and Cheng Deqian.

Amidst the sound of footsteps, armor pages jingled, and a young general strode up to the tower with a sword in his hand. He walked up to the two of them, clasped his hands and saluted, and said in a loud voice: "Cui Zhongcheng, Cheng Fuzun, guide and guard."

, everything is ready, you two can set off at any time. This is Cui Zhongcheng’s first time to cross Hengshan, so you can walk slowly along the way, not in a hurry, and enjoy the scenery."

"What scenery is there to see in this world of ice and snow?" Cui Ang shook his head and said, "It's better to rush to Xingqing Mansion to see Mr. Xiao to be serious!"

This young general is none other than Xiao Ding's confidant, Li Yi.

He is only in his early twenties this year.

Although he is young, he has a lot of qualifications. A few years ago, when Xiao Ding led ten cavalry to defeat more than a hundred soldiers of the Fourth Army, Li Yike was one of them.

After listening to Cui Ang's words, Li Yi smiled and said: "Cui Zhongcheng, if you go quickly, you will not see our general manager when you get to Xingqing Mansion. The general manager is still in the Black Mountain area to deal with the divination people!"

"The divination blocker!" Cui Ang frowned: "The imperial court is currently negotiating with the Liao people. At this time, it is better not to start a provocation. This divination blocker is also a subordinate of the Liao people!"

Li Yi raised his eyebrows and said: "Zhongcheng, that's not what you said. It is precisely because the imperial court is negotiating with the Liao people that we here have to beat the Liao people so hard that they will suffer from bone marrow pain and make them afraid.

, the imperial court has more confidence when negotiating. It is precisely because of this that the general manager went to Montenegro in person, otherwise, how can the general manager of labor be so powerful as a mere divination person!"

It's not enough to say anything speculative.

Cui Ang's eyes flashed with evil intent, and he was about to explode, but he suddenly remembered that the general in front of him was not his subordinate, and this was also on someone else's territory. If he made the other party angry, he would be the one to suffer.

Cheng Gui, who was on the side, saw that Cui Ang was a little unable to get off the stage. He stepped slightly sideways and stood between the two of them, and said with a smile: "President Li, are the people you sent reliable? The mountain is blocked by heavy snow, and the road is difficult to travel. Moreover, in the cross-mountain,

There are so many wild wolves!”

Li Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Don't worry, Mr. Cheng, the roads in Hengshan have been well built for a long time. As for those arrogant wild wolves, I don't think they will come out in such a cold weather."

"So good, so good!"

Li Yi sent Cui Ang away like the god of plague.

Looking at the cavalry going away, Li Yi spit out thick phlegm and made a big hole in the snow.

He really wanted to kill this guy Cui Ang.

When he thought of the fate of the Hebei frontier troops at the hands of this man, he became even more angry.

"Commander, let's just let them be snatched away by wolves!" A voice came from the side, "In this snowy day, the wolves are very hungry. It is not unusual for groups of wolves to attack a camp.

"

"This official is too big to hold in your mouth!"

"Controller, I dare you to recognize this wolf's official title!" The visitor burst into laughter.

"Ye Li Feng, we really can't make the decision on this matter." Li Yi turned around and looked at his deputy general, Ye Li Feng, a party member. This guy doesn't have such a bunch of hair on his head anymore.

Follow the Song Dynasty people's example and grow thick hair and tie it in a bun.

"But I can feel the murderous intention controlling your heart!" Ye Lifeng said with a smile.

"Even if my murderous intent is ten times stronger, I can't touch this person!" Li Yi sighed: "But I am really holding my breath. This person is the common enemy of our Hebei frontier army."

Li Yi was right. Today, in Hengshan, there are no longer rugged and difficult paths, but avenues for carriages to travel on. Except for the fact that checkpoints have been erected in some special places.

Of course, not only did the wild wolves that often snatched people away from Hengshan not appear, they did not even hear a wolf howl during their crossing of Hengshan.

However, after leaving Hengshan, Cui Ang's mood did not improve.

Because he saw the world north of Hengshan.

In Bianliang, when everyone talks about the area north of Hengshan Mountain, most people think it is a barbaric land without royal laws and civilization.

But what he saw now was something completely different.

Along the way, there are wide avenues, numerous workshops, and endless crowds of people. Although they speak a variety of languages, the scenes of harmonious coexistence can be seen everywhere.

Although heavy snow has covered everything, the villages that can be seen are obviously newly built houses and the surrounding fertile fields, all showing a booming northwest land.
To be continued...